Cynodon dactylon plant named &#39;LEG13A&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Cynodon dactylon  plant named ‘LEG13A’, characterized by its fast speed of growth, very low seed head production, medium-strong plant density, strong sod strength, dark green leaf color and freedom from disease.

LATIN NAME OF GENUS AND SPECIES OF PLANT CLAIMED

Cynodon dactylon

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘LEG13A’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct vigorous-growingperennial variety of Cynodon dactylon, which has been given the varietydenomination of ‘LEG13A’. Its market class is that of a turf grass.‘LEG13A’ is intended for use as a lawn grass in gardening, landscaping,sports fields and amenity horticulture.

The new Cynodon dactylon cultivar is a seedling selection discovered ina controlled planting of open pollinated Cynodon dactylon ‘C1’, (notpatented) in a controlled environment at Clarendon, New South Wales,Australia. In 2005 approximately 1000 seedlings were germinated from‘C1’ and grown to maturity. Seed were collected from these plants and inwinter 2006 50 seedlings from this second generation were grown tomaturity. These were each reproduced vegetatively by cuttings and grownas a replicated trial in order to assess traits of these 50 plant linesincluding speed of growth, sod strength, low seed head production, leafcolour and freedom from disease. Other proprietary breeding lines andcommercial cultivars were included for comparison. In spring 2006 anyline that produced abundant seed heads was eliminated from the program.From spring 2006 to autumn (fall) 2007 field trials were conducted ofthe remaining 8 low seed head producing lines from the breeding program.In March 2008 a single seedling was finally selected due to its fastspeed of growth, strong sod strength, low seed head production, darkgreen leaf colour and freedom from disease.

The final selection designated ‘LEG13A’ was considered to be greatlyimproved compared to other varieties of Cynodon dactylon with greatsuitability for use as a lawn grass in gardening, landscaping, sportsfields and amenity horticulture. The low seed head production reducesincidence of seed germiination in gardens, thus reducing weed potentialand also means reduced mowing frequency in landscape and turfapplications compared to higher seed head producing varieties. Less seedhead production also means the plant put energy into vegetative, notreproductive growth and therefore recovers better from wear in sportsfield applications than higher seed head producing varieties. Thereduced seed head production of ‘LEG13A’ also reduces the chance ofinvasive weed occurrence of this plant in native plant areas.

‘LEG13A’ was first asexually propagated by cutting and division ofstolons in 2008 in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia. ‘LEG13A’ hassince been further asexually propagated by means of cutting and divisionof stolons. The distinctive characteristics of the variety have remainedstable and true to type through successive cycles of asexualpropagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedlyobserved and can be used to distinguish ‘LEG13A’ as a new and distinctcultivar of Cynodon dactylon plant:

-   -   1. Fast speed of growth; and    -   2. very low seed head production; and    -   3. Medium-strong plant density; and    -   4. Strong sod strength; and    -   5. Dark green leaf color; and    -   6. Freedom from disease

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the Cynodon dactylonparent ‘C1’ primarily in having a very low seed head production whereas‘C1’ has a high rate of seed head production.

An application for plant breeders' rights for variety ‘LEG13A’ has beenlodged with the Australian Plant Breeders' Rights Office, and was firstgazetted on 28 Apr. 2008 under Application No. 2008/110.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonablypossible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typicalfoliage and growth characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in thephotographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detaileddescription, which accurately describes the colors of ‘LEG13A’.

FIG. 1 illustrates a ‘LEG13A’ plant in a 200 mm pot grown forapproximately 10 months in an outdoor environment showing plant growth10 weeks after pruning (mowing) in autumn in Clarendon, NSW, Australia.

FIG. 2 illustrates the plant growth habit of a ‘LEG13A’ plant grown forapproximately 10 months in an outdoor environment showing plant growthdensity, and leaf coloration 10 weeks after pruning (mowing).

FIG. 3 illustrates ‘LEG13A’ stolon showing coloration and dimensions 10weeks after pruning (mowing) in autumn in Clarendon, NSW, Australia.

FIG. 4 illustrates ‘LEG13A’ stolon and. inflorescence relativedimensions in autumn in Clarendon, NSW, Australia

FIG. 5 illustrates ‘LEG13A’. inflorescence detail in autumn inClarendon, NSW, Australia

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed botanical description of a new and distinctvariety of an Cynodon dactylon ornamental plant known as ‘LEG13A’. Plantobservations were made on plants grown in Clarendon, New South Wales,Australia. Unless indicated otherwise, the descriptions disclosed hereinare based upon observations made from May 2008 of mature ‘LEG13A’ plantsgrown in nursery pots in greenhouse and outdoor growing areas with daytemperature ranging from 25° C. to 35° C., night temperatures rangingfrom 10° C. to 15° C., and light levels ranging from 6 to 8 klux. Plantswere grown for about 24 weeks with one plant per 20 cm container. Plantswere trimmed 10 weeks before assessment. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or,conversely, younger plants. ‘LEG13A’ has not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors andother characteristics are given, it is to be understood that suchcharacteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accuratelyas practicable. The phenotype of the variety may vary with variations inthe environment such as season, temperature, light quality, lightintensity, day length, cultural conditions and the like. Color notationsare based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, of The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2007 edition.

-   Botanical classification: Cynodon dactylon cultivar ‘LEG13A’.-   Parentage: Parents — Cynodon dactylon breeder code ‘C1’-   Propagation: Type — Asexual propagation of cuttings from stolons and    divisions of plants.-   Technical description of the variety: The description of the variety    below is taken from a pot trial conducted in the Summer 2008 to    autumn 2008 in Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia. Plants were    six-months old at the time of observation. Further observations were    made in March 2009 to confirm colors with plants with 10 weeks    regrowth post mowing.-   Plant characteristics: vigorous-growing perennial, stoloniferous    grass, culms decumbent, habit prostrate becoming erect when    flowering.-   Stolon: Roots at nodes, length long (mean 30 cm) internode length    (4th from tip) medium (mean 24 mm), diameter of internode medium    (mean 1.5 mm), color of internode when exposed to sunlight 177B,    diameter of node medium (mean 2.0 mm), branching medium, subtended    by a leafy sheath with length 6 to 9 mm.-   Leaf: attachment cauline, attitude semi-erect, length short (mean    13.7 mm), width broad (mean 2.8 mm), color of blade green (RHS    146A), leaf veins parallel and obscure, shape linear-triangular,    apex narrow acute, leaf margin entire.-   Ligule: Ligule is a fringe of hairs, not prominent.-   Awns: Absent.-   Inflorescence: Digitate raceme with 3 to 4 spikes of length 25-30 mm    and color green (RHS 146A); length of peduncle short (mean 60 mm),    color of peduncle green (RHS 146A).-   Glumes: color grayed yellow (RHS 160C-D) and fading to grayed white    (approximately RHS 155D), length 1.5-2.0 mm-   Lemmas: color grayed yellow (RHS 160C-D) and fading to grayed white    (approximately RHS 155D), length 1.5 mm.-   Anther color: grayed yellow approximately (RHS 160C-D) changing to    grayed orange (RHS 174A), length about 1.2 mm.-   Stigma color: white 155D.-   Comparison of ‘LEG13A’ with other varieties of Cynodon dactylon:    Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the Cynodon    dactylon parent ‘C1’ primarily in having a very low seed head    production whereas ‘C1’ has a high rate of seed head production. A    sample taken in autumn 2008 at Clarendon, New South Wales, Australia    showed an average of 0.6 inflorescences (seed heads) per plant for    ‘LEG13A’ whereas ‘C1’ was found to have an average of 13    inflorescences per plant. ‘LEG13A’ also differs from ‘C1’ due to a    long stolon length and a medium plant density whereas ‘C1’ has a    short to medium stolon length with a strong plant density. The very    low seed head production of ‘LEG13A’ differs to the varieties    ‘Greenlees Park’, ‘RR1’, ‘Oz-E-Green’, ‘Riley's Super Sport’, ‘TL1’,    ‘JT1’ and ‘LTA’ which have medium to high production of seed heads.    ‘LEG13A’ also differs to the varieties ‘Winter Gem’, ‘Wintergreen’    and ‘Riley's Evergreen’ which have low to medium seed head    production. ‘LEG13A’ has a medium stolon internode length which    differs from the varieties ‘Santa Ana’, ‘Plateau’ and ‘Grand Prix’    which all have very short stolon internode lengths. ‘LEG13A’ has a    medium plant density which differs from the varieties ‘CT2’ and    ‘Windsor Green’ which have strong plant densities.-   Cultural notes: ‘LEG13A’ has been observed to have good turfgrass    performance to USDA zone 7b. ‘LEG13A’ has been tested for heat    tolerance to 47° Celsius. ‘LEG13A’ grows well in very sandy and    heavy silt soil conditions. ‘LEG13A’ has shade tolerance typical of    Cynodon dactylon. ‘LEG13A’ competes well with invasive weeds. It    strikes well when being stolonised, and transplants well as sod.-   Disease resistance: ‘LEG13A’ has no known disease susceptibilities    and is considered typical of the species for pest and disease    tolerance.

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Cynodon dactylon plant named ‘LEG13A’,substantially as herein shown and described.